Road Trip To Red-Fronted Parrots

Follow these directions to find these elusive parrots endemic to a small slice of Mexico.

If you have your own car, take the Toll Highway (Autopista de Cuota) from McAllen, Texas, to downtown Monterrey, Mexico. Continue southeast on Avenida Constitución (which starts as Bulevard Miguel de la Madrid) and turn right (south) on Avenida Eugenio Garza Sada (Route 85). After 35 or 40 minutes look for the sign to Cascada Cola de Caballo (Horse Tail Falls) and turn left. Set your odometer to “0.” You will enter San Isidro Canyon at mile 19.6 (31.4 km).

At the junction at mile 22.4, turn right and head toward Saltillo. At this point, you are entering maroon-fronted parrot territory. At mile 22.8, stop and look at the huge cliffs to the south. There is a trail heading into the mountains where you may find several other interesting species of birds. Towering cliffs follow the road for the next 13 miles. We were told that the parrots can be encountered anywhere along this road. Stop periodically and listen for loud calls which can be heard for more than half a mile, and scan the cliffs and mixed conifer forest below with binoculars or a spotting scope.

At mile 43 you will reach the small town of Los Lirios. Continue, and at mile 47.6 turn left headed to Saltillo. After 9 more miles, turn left again toward Saltillo at the Saltillo-Matehuala junction. Enter the Toll Highway (Monterrey Cuota) after 3.25 miles, follow the signs to the city of Monterrey, and retrace your route to your lodging.

I.D. It

Once there, you’ll recognize the maroon-fronted parrot, sometimes called a macawlet, by its green body and its maroon feathering over its cere. This parrot is larger and darker than its similarly-feathered relative, the thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha). At one time it was considered a race of the thick-billed, instead of a separate species. In flight, the maroon-fronted parrot lacks the thick-billed parrot’s conspicuous bright yellow on its underwing-coverts. Also, the feathering above the cere and over the eye is a dark brownish-maroon rather than the brilliant scarlet of the thick bill.

**For the complete article, “In Search of a Mexican Endemic,” please see the March 2007 print edition of BIRD TALK**

I read th earticle in the magazine and it is great. That is something i would love to do one day.

Elysha, Little Rock, AKPosted: 3/2/2007 9:00:26 AM

I always wanted to do one of those trips to Brazil or Austrailia to see parrots in the wild. However, I always think that it doesn't seem plausible. This seems do-able though. I can't beleive that there are actual directions given! That's great!

Disclaimer: The posts and threads recorded in our message boards do not reflect the opinions of nor are endorsed by I-5 Publishing, LLC nor any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of these posts and threads.

*Content generated by our loyal visitors, which includes comments and club postings, is free of constraints from our editors’ red pens, and therefore not governed by I-5 Publishing, LLC’s Gold Standard Quality Content, but instead allowed to follow the free form expression necessary for quick, inspired and spontaneous communication.